CHAPTER ONE
1894Lady Dorianna Dale looked down at the exquisite white silk nightgown trimmed with delicate lace that she held in her hands.
She had already folded five others of similar beauty and laid them in the large leather trunk, but she had to stop for a moment and hold this one up to her cheek.
It felt heavenly, so soft and fine.
‘I am so lucky,’ mused Dorianna. ‘I have so many beautiful things, I should be the happiest girl in the world!’
Before she had time to ask herself why she was not feeling in any way happy and why, in fact, her heart was heavy with dread and apprehension, there came a knock at her bedroom door.
“Come in,” she called out.
It was Marjorie, her Mama’s elderly maid. Tall and thin with straight greying hair under her white cap, the old woman peered round
